The government’s decision on whether to extend Sepang International Circuit’s (SIC) contract to host the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix (MotoGP) will depend on detailed data showing the race’s return on investment, says youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh.
While the event had received encouraging support, Yeoh said, SIC must convince the finance ministry that the race provides comprehensive benefits.
“When we invest, we are not signing only in terms of tourism. It should help support the economy and job opportunities for Malaysians,” Bernama quoted her as saying after an event in Putrajaya today.
Yeoh said the MotoGP generates about 4,500 temporary jobs annually, but the government also wanted to see long-term benefits, such as skills transfer to Malaysians.
“So, that’s why data collection is important, and SIC must ensure that all this is recorded to convince the finance ministry that it is not a waste,” she said.
It was reported yesterday that SIC was in talks with rights holder Dorna Sports to renew its MotoGP contract, which expires in 2026.
SIC’s CEO, Azhan Shafriman Hanif, was also reported as saying that following the decision to give up the hosting rights for the Formula 1 grand prix, Malaysia should not “make the same mistake with MotoGP”.
On another matter, Yeoh expressed confidence in the Malaysian badminton squad ahead of the World Championships in Paris from Aug 25 to 31.
She said athletes under the Road to Gold (RTG) programme had the potential to deliver strong performances, but cautioned against injuries owing to the tight competition calendar.
Among the shuttlers in the RTG programme are Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik, Goh Sze Fei-Nur Izzuddin Rumsani, Man Wei Chong-Tee Kai Wun, Pearly Tan-M Thinaah, Chen Tang Jie-Toh Ee Wei and Goh Soon Huat-Shevon Jemie Lai.
Separately, 80 athletes will represent Malaysia at the SEA Deaf Games in Jakarta, competing in six sports – futsal, athletics, badminton, tenpin bowling, chess, and table tennis.
